This state capitol feels like a monument to both old and new. Sprouting out amongst the nearby buildings as a concrete obelisk, you probably wouldn't think much of the Louisiana State Capitol. Its greens are a bit underwhelming but as you get closer to the building you do get a sense of its historic significance. Once you're in and past security you're greeted with an art deco style interior that feels old and outdated but in a bit of a charming way. Going on a Friday before a long weekend meant the place was a ghost town but that was nice as we felt we had the whole place to ourselves to explore. There wasn't much going on when we went but they do have an amazing observation deck that allows for beautiful views of the Baton Rouge area (for free!). You do have to take two elevators to reach the top but it's well worth it. Keeping with the theme both elevators are small and old fashioned which kind of adds to the charm. There's also a gift shop at the top where we bought some magnets from for a reasonable price. This was a fun pit stop we hit along the way to New Orleans which is how we would view this place as a whole. There's nothing here that would make you go out of your way for it, especially with how difficult parking can be around there (we walked 10 minutes from our spot). However, if you're on your way to NOLA or are very interested in Louisiana's state history, then this place would definitely be for you. read more

The tallest capitol building in the United States is well worth a visit. The lobby is gorgeous and you can take the elevator up to an outdoor viewing area with 360 degree views of the city. There is a small gift shop up there, too. You can also peek into both the state legislature rooms which are amazingly detailed and decorated. Don't forget to find the back hallway on the ground level where Huey Long was shot. There are still many, many bullet holes in the walls from that incident, believe it or not. It's free to visit and well worth checking out. read more

See all

"Corrupted by wealth and power, your government is like a restaurant with only one dish. They've got a set of Republican waiters on one side and a set of Democratic waiters on the other side. But no matter which set of waiters brings you the dish, the legislative grub is all prepared in the same Wall Street kitchen." Huey Long Huey Long was a very smart man. The Greatest Governor that ever lived. He knew a thing or two about corruption, that the democrats & Republicans were just two wings of the same bird. Murdered on the steps of the Capitol. Gave his life for it. I was born in "Baton Rouge" AKA "RED STICK." My grandparents lived here & also over in Breaux Bridge. My grandfather loved to fish. He also loved politics. Moi was his favorite grandchild. Called me the "Apple of his eye," taught me every thing I know. As kids, my brother & I played on the capitol grounds here more times than you can shake a "stick" at. We learned to roller skate outside the capitol's majestic park grounds, while our pawpaw played politics inside the capitol. There is no other place in the world quite like Louisiana. From 1682-1763 The French had control of French Louisiana. Some flip flopping went on from Spain back to France then, in 1803 Napoleon Bonaparte agreed to sell the territory of Louisiana to the United States for 15 million dollars. By 1812 the Territory of Orleans had grown enough to achieve statehood, becoming the state of Louisiana. That's why Louisiana, is the only state in America whose political subdivisions are parishes, not counties, bc it started out as French Louisiana. The most elegant & breathtakingly beautiful of all the capitols, the most famous with the most famous Governor. The most majestic elegant gardens surround. Stunningly Gorgeous French Deco inside & out, très magnifique! French Louisiana, the state with the most spectacular history, food & ART. No one can deny its relentless beauty and uniqueness. Home of the LSU Tigers baby meow! We do things different over here y'all. And i'm very proud to have been born in "Red Stick" AKA "Baton Rouge" Louisiana. Laissez les bons temps rouler. OuiOui. #1 favorite Capitol stateside. Bucket list worthy. read more

Louisiana State Capitol - Tallest & Prettiest State Capitol in the lower 48. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

See all

I came a few years ago with some fellow YELP-ers, and I came back by to just look around as it has been a minute. I am glad I did. I already have a Passport to the Parks through the National Parks Service, but did you know they have something similar for state capitols? It is a small spiral bound book that has two pages for all state capitol buildings? Well, they do, and you can buy one here and get your first stamp! Now I have a new goal to visit each one! Anyways, this is a nice building, very 1930s metropolis looking and is the tallest state capitol building in the US. It is 450 feet tall. You can visit the first floor, and from what I understand, you can watch the state senate do its business when it is in session. read more

Louisiana State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Located in downtown Baton Rouge and surrounded by 27 acres of gardens and landscaping that have a number of monuments and memorials throughout, the Louisiana State Capitol building is 450 feet tall and has 34 stories. It was completed in 1931 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1982. This is the 41st State Capitol that I have visited and reviewed https://www.yelp.com/collection/ucwQvyGY8sZEDHaN49HU5Q/State-Capitols. Louisiana was the 18th state to join the Union on April 30, 1812. This is the tallest Capitol in the United States and it looks a lot like the North Dakota Capitol building in Bismarck https://www.yelp.com/biz/north-dakota-state-capitol-building-bismarck?hrid=oBXNDJGsVrgWwO1-ohO1Tg. Baton Rouge is the second city to be the capital of Louisiana after it was moved from New Orleans. And this is the second Capitol building for the city. As the legislature was not in session today, parking on the streets around the capitol was easy enough with free parking next to the meters on the weekend. It was a pleasant visit and I'm sure that I will be reviewing some of the monuments here next. [Review 17359 overall - 72 in Louisiana - 877 of 2022.] read more

See all

They offer a good tour sans tour guide, but you can take an elevator to the highest point. There are statues of the history from the vikings but they skip over slavery like it didn't happen. There's a lot on Huey Long and his assassination. Sad event. Sounds like he was hit by a stray bullet from his security. read more

Parking was easy and the capital building was free access. We enjoyed our visit and then went to visit the Mississippi River.

My 1900th Review I am posting this review today from the steps of the State Capital Building in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As historic as a place this building is this review has little to do with the physical building itself and more to do with the Great State of Louisiana and the people that call her home or those that have experienced her beauty. Although I now reside in Florida I spent more than a quarter of a century living in Louisiana and my roots are deeply embedded in the culture. Born and raise in the southwest corner of the state I have been fortunate to have traveled to every corner of this state and have experienced so much. In recent weeks the people of Louisiana have experienced yet another tragic event that has devastated a large portion of the state, the flood waters have destroyed the life's and property of thousands, yet the resiliency of the people remains as strong as ever. History shows that the people of Louisiana are no stranger to strife, the antagonism of Mother Nature or the persecution of those that settled here during the Le Grand Dérangement in 1765. Not to say that all the residents of Louisiana today are descendants of Acadia but certainly those that aren't have been impacted by the lifestyle and influenced by the ethics, food, music and the culture of the people of Louisiana. I love this State for many reasons but the primary reason is because of the people. The proud heritage still guides the life's of those that reside here today and for those of us that grew up here. In my opinion there are no harder working or generous people on the planet, they are unselfish and faithful, as my dad always said " I ain't got much of anything but you can have half of anything I got" pretty much sums it up. There's no doubt the people of Louisiana will over-come this latest challenge and be better for it. I'm quite sure there are hundreds of neighbors helping neighbors as I write this not only with money or furnishings but with their blood, sweat and tears. read more

See all

Part of Louisiana's checkered past, yet still important to its future. The Louisiana State Capitol is absolutely magnificent for a building its age (built in 1932), and is one of the more prominent features of Baton Rouge, if not all of Louisiana. If only the walls of this building could talk! You will see statues of prominent men in Louisiana's history, plaques that adorn the walls around both chambers of the legislature (including the elevator doors), and of course, the covered bullet holes that mark the spot where Senator Huey P. Long's assassin was shot 61 times. The observation deck at the top of the 27th floor is a must-see, where you can observe the entire cityscape of Baton Rouge and even see a good portion of the LSU campus (to include Tiger Stadium). In getting to the top, you'll have to take the elevator to the 24th floor, and then get on a second elevator to go to floor #27. Of course, the most prominent Louisianan on the grounds of this building is not the current governor of the state. No, its actually the man that had this building built- Huey P. Long. Senator Long's history is well-documented (y'all can look it up), and he is buried on the front lawn of the capitol building. Even in death, the man's legacy still echoes into the 21st century. Not only that, his tomb is actually pretty decadent to observe, as are the surrounding landscaping. I've been here twice, and noticed that it is free to do a self-guided tour of the capitol building. There is a gift shop on the 27th floor, and the employees up there are very laid back in talking to, if not downright hilarious. After concluding your tour of the visit, the staff ask that you leave only your zip code as a visitor within the log book. Parking around the building varies. You'll see metered parking on the front lawn (free on the weekends, I think), yet other parking areas around the lake and other three sides of the building. It just depends on which way you want to enter the building. read more

See all

This is a review of the Capitol building, not what goes on in the chambers. The Louisiana State Capitol was built in the art deco style. The building is beautiful and ornate. It is truly a sight to behold. The main steps are labeled with the state's names, and the dates they entered the union. Inside is even more ornate than the outside. It is truly amazing that this is in Louisiana. The observation deck of the capitol has a great view of the well manicured gardens, the river and the surrounding areas. When the legislature is in session you can go to the ground floor and watch the committee hearings. Every resident of this great state should visit the Capitol. read more

See all

After living here for almost 9 years, I finally got to visit the tallest state capitol building in the country. I went for my daughter's field trip and got a pretty extensive tour. Come learn the history of this building and even learn about some cool facts as to what makes this one of the the most unique Capitol buildings in the United States. Outside is a lush courtyard where you can bring a picnic lunch and enjoy time outside. Surrounding the building are museums, eateries and cute neighborhoods they will make you fall in love with Baton Rouge over and over again. The only thing I did not get to do during this last visit was go up to the top observation deck of the building. Anyway, if you have not been here, make your plans now, just don't go here while they are in sessions. read more

See all

**A must-do when in Baton Rouge*** While other downtown tourist places (e.g., Seattle, Calgary, Los Angeles, Dallas, etc.) charge an admission fee to go up the tallest buildings in their states/cities to see the best skylines of their city, Baton Rouge has no fee! Admission is completely free! There is no charge to enter the building, go up to the highest level and enjoy 365 views of downtown Baton Rouge. You need only be ready to go through a security checkpoint when entering. The building and the city views up top makes for great photos when visiting the city. I came here on a Sunday so we were able to easily find free parking right outside the building. Something that I thought was pretty cool was how each step leading up to the capitol building had a state name (e.g., Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, etc.) There was also a special memorial at the bottom of the steps filled with a myriad of American flags to honor and remember those who served in the war. I'm not sure if this is always there or if it was done for the Memorial Day weekend we were there. So glad we checked this place out and found out you could see some of the best views from the top of this building. read more

I wasn't expecting too much when going to this site. However, I was blown away by the beauty of the inside and the massive size of the building and tower! It boasts that it is the tallest capitol building and there is a free tower observatory area. You enter through the ground flood on the side, then up to first to see the senate and House of Representatives, then the elevator to 24, then a smaller elevator to 27. There's a small gift shop at the top, but it was closed. Go during Christmas to see the place decked out in beautiful Christmas trees and gorgeous poinsettias and bows. Free admission (always) and free parking (weekends). The inside is much more impressive than the outside. The view from the tower allows you to see the river, downtown, and refineries. read more

See all

As state capitol buildings go, Louisiana's is surprisingly beautiful, full of history, easy and friendly to tour, and manageable if you're there to do political-type things. We bring a lot of our out-of-town guests here because the view from the top is fantastic, and because Huey Long. But I've spent a good bit of time there doing more political-type stuff, and the building is a lot more hospitable than many of the state capitols I've been in. Five stars all around. read more

When they say this is the tallest state capitol building in the country, they aren't kidding. It looks like a skyscraper, very unique. Sadly we arrived in the evening and during Covid, so the building was closed. I want to come back when it's open and enjoy the views from the top. Park and area around the capitol looked well maintained and safe. However, possibly due to the pandemic the streets were deserted. read more

Louisiana State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

After I visited the Capitol Park Museum, I saw a tall building. That was the Louisiana State Capital. I started walking to the building. It was quiet during one of the COVID pandemic days. I found Huey Long's statue. I learned a lot during my stay in Baton Rouge. Next time, I will go to the inside of the building! read more

Louisiana State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

See all

If you can't go to the Capitol where can you go? Now that I have that out of my system. I'm surprised at the lack of yelp reviews of our state's Capitol. I was never a lover of history growing up. I'd rather be anywhere but history class but one day I grew up. I started wondering where I came from. Where my people came from. Where my state came from. Louisiana is a unique state and our Capitol definitely showcases that. The Huey P. Long exhibit not only brought tears to my eyes, it made me question what really happened that day. Walking through here I also realized that every single city and every single street in Louisiana is based on someone who made us who we are today. It's a great place to take in some history of our great state! Go visit and you'll see. read more

Great views from the observation deck! Stop on the first floor first and look at both senate and house chambers. The first floor detail and artwork is really impressive. The observation deck is on the 27th floor and accessible via elevator. The walkway goes all the way around the building and has amazing views of Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas. It's immediately apparent that the state capital is the tallest building for miles in any direction. Worth a visit! One star off because it's not clear where parking/the main entrance is. Needs better signage for visitors. Also, the use of prison (i.e. Nouveau slavery) labor on the grounds is unsettling and really should be changed. read more

See all

"Union, Justice, and Confidence" The motto of the State of Louisiana. This towering state capitol building is an historic old place with lots of cool artwork and swelling with Louisiana pride! A lot of the capitol building seems like a shrine to the most famous governor that ever lived, Huey Long. They have paintings, statues, plaques, murals and all kinds of other art depicting the former governor and state senator. I really enjoy all the works of art here showing the various moments in Louisiana's long history. It's been part of so many countries with a vibrant history, they've done a great job of showing it off. The coolest part of the tour is that you can take the super old elevators (check out the elevator doors, depicting the heroes of Louisiana!). They take you up to the 27th floor, where there's an observation deck. From here, you can scope out downtown Baton Rouge and the large bridge. Be sure to take the correct elevators, because the governor has his own elevator all to himself. The Louisiana State Capitol is pretty tall- taller than both the US Capitol and the Texas State Capitol buildings. Down on the lower levels, they have the senate, where you can look in on democracy at work, with the legislative body at work in a beautiful old room with Roman columns and ornate stone work. read more

I was pleasantly surprised on my first time visit to the Capitol. It was a Sunday and my Nephew is visiting from Tahiti so I thought a view of this historic Louisiana landmark would complete our Baton Rouge visit. In the past I had just driven by on Highway 10 at night to show our capitol to visitors, but this visit gave me the chance to see it up close and personal. Apparently you can't drive right up to the building like I did. Yep, you heard me, as you drive up, there appears to be a driveway on each side. So I proceeded to drive up and realized that it was just a wide pathway. Lame on me. The grounds were filled with lots of activity on this gorgeous Sunday afternoon, photographers snapping "save the date" pics with lovers, dogs running and playing together as owners chatted, families strolling and laughing. We used the time to walk our dog and enjoy the lush green park. The Pirate even wanted to get out and walk and our young one made friends with other dogs on the grounds. There seems to be some restoration work going on in front of the building, but that had absolutely no effects on the park.....you can easily park on the street in front of the Capitol, which gives you a grand photo opp. We sadly didn't get to go in the building as the other Yelpers had suggested. I'll definitely be back......only next time I'll bring a picnic and spent a couple of hours. Maybe I can get Uncle Bobby to come out and join us..... read more

Louisiana State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

The inside is beautiful. The ceiling is painting with pretty scenes. Then on both sides of the main floor you have the senate rooms. They are fun to look at. Then you can walk and tour the back where Huey P Long was shot. The top deck is my favorite part. It gives you views of Baton Rouge that are amazing! You look down over the gardens, the river, and tiger stadium!! read more

See all

Impressive...glad we took the time to go into the building. And to think they built that in 14 months wow!

This is a great place to visit. We went on the weekend before Christmas and it was open. There is not much signage for where to enter the building. The entry is from the East and West sides of the building through the foyer. There are security checkpoints just like at the airport. Everybody was very friendly and informative. The entire lobby and both houses are beautifully decorated for Christmas. The lobby has a Christmas tree for different departments. They are all very well done but I have to give a shout-out to the one done by the fireman. A lot of thought (and effort) went into that one. The staff was wonderfully informative and helpful explaining about how the state legislature works, explaining the history and suggesting other places to visit. The observation deck on the 27th floor was open but, I am told, sometimes it is not due to weather. It was very windy and rainy the day we got there but we could still go out and get some good pictures. I highly recommend this as a must see if you are in Baton Rouge! read more

See all

I haven't been inside. I'm guessing most people haven't, however this is for the area surrounding it. Man! What an awesome area to walk around. There are paths to just stroll along, run, bike, walk the dog, play in the grass; you name it! I saw it happening. I really enjoyed walking along the area when I was visiting my Aunt down in BR, we took her dog around and had a nice mile walk just randomly going this way and that way. The building itself was really tall, for me being from Boston; it's funny to see such a tall state building like that where all the magic happens, because we have a short long one.. and man does that description come out funny but it's true. Our Capitol building isn't that tall, but it's probably the same square footage in it's length, if not bigger than BR's. Plus it's funny because Boston has giant buildings like this one, one right next to another, next to another and another and so on, so for this guy to be sitting solo was weird for me, but totally normal here. I snapped some good photos from the front, it's really pretty around there. read more

Louisiana State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Such a great way to learn about our wonderful state of Louisiana! The overall building is just amazing. The history in its walls and its architectural design is just top notch. The problem that I had unfortunately was that I called in advance to arrange a guided tour for my Girl Scout troop. They assured me they could accommodate and it wouldn't be a problem. So when We get there we are informed that no such tour can be completed bc they are short staffed on the weekends (due to budget cuts). I really wish the person who took the call would've informed us of this. Thankfully one of the dads with us was a total rockstar and was able to give the tour himself. However if it weren't for him, our girls may not have learned as much as they did. All of the employees we encountered were kind and knowledgeable about where we could and couldn't go and what we should look for on our self-guided tour. I truly appreciate that and just hope that more training is given to all of the people who are in charge of answering the phones. read more

Louisiana State Capitol - A great experience! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

See all

This building and the surrounding area are really beautiful. I loved all the green space and big trees. You can see really far from the observation deck on the 27th floor. The elevator to get there is tiny and fair warning for you claustrophobic types. The building itself is so cool. Art deco designs and ornate details are everywhere. Definitely worth checking out. The only thing that was weird to me was the lack of directions for parking. Stick to the left and there is some on the side under some large shady oaks. read more

Louisiana State Capitol - One of the many views - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Gain knowledge in how government works by attending a House of Representatives or Senate Session. You can view Baton Rouge from the top or even sit in or speak to your representatives at a committee meeting. read more

See all

It's a very pretty building, though I recommend getting here as early as possible if you have government business to take care of.

A nice place to take a walk... beautiful gardens, lovely architecture, and relatively quiet. We took the elevator to the 27th floor to go to the observation deck. That was a bit of an adventure, as people from 3 elevators get off at the 24th (I think...) floor and then merge onto a smaller single elevator to go the rest of the way. This small elevator only holds 6 people at a time, so it's a bit of a cluster. Or, at least it was when we visited on a Saturday morning. That's the only reason this gets a 4 star review. Everything else was awesome. read more

There are two State Capitols in Baton Rouge, the new and the old. This one is the new and lacks the charm and character of the Old. The building is fun to look at and is an impressive creature in downtown BR. It is a nice area and part of town good for walking. Too bad it is filled with politicians. They bring the rating down to a three. read more

Louisiana State Capitol - Building on a blue day - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Beautiful grounds. It's the tallest capital and a very gorgeous one. The landscaping is awesome. The Governor Huey P Long monument is even awesome sitting in the center. This is such a peaceful area of Baton Rouge, great to take a walk get in some fresh air. read more

Louisiana State Capitol - Louisiana State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

This is a must for anyone in town. Learning about the states history and seeing where the laws are made is very important. It makes all of the politics in the news really come alive when you can actually see and feel where it happens. It is truely hard to believe the state senate and house of representatives is located right in the city, kinda sparks my inner politician. The trip to the top of the capital is really cool too, nice views. read more

See all

The tallest State Capitol in the U.S.! The park (Arsenal Park) that surrounds the building is beautiful. The magnolia trees smell so lovely in Spring. read more

Louisiana State Capitol - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

See all

This is the capitol that Huey P. Long built. At the time of its building, in the middle of the Great Depression, it was the tallest building in the South. Architectural, it's a wonderful monument to Art Deco. The entrance is grand and impressive. Walk into the lobby and you are in opulence - every fixture is symbolic, every where is polished marble, fine-grained woods. If the house is not in session, take a peek inside. Ask someone and you'll be shown where Huey was assassinated - the bullet marks are still in the wall and floor and a display case explains the event. Take the elevator up to the observation deck and get a great view of the city and of the Mississippi river. While you're looking, look down on the gardens in front of the building. Right in the center there's a statue - not only is it a memorial to Huey P. Long, it's also his gravesite. read more

The Louisiana State Capitol is simply gorgeous. The grounds, the architecture, the grounds, really everything, just makes this landmark a must-see. You can see tidbits of Louisiana history in plaques here and there. There are statues of the prominent men of the state's history. There are also ushers who would alloy visitors to peek through the Senate and House of representative chambers. Visitors are allowed access to the 27th floor, which provides a breathtaking view of the Mississippi River and surrounding areas. From atop, it is so very easy to slip into a philosophical or poetic mood. Or you know, it is just THE place to take Instagram- and Facebook-worthy pictures. (I will leave it to you to guess which one I indulged. Hint, hint... I am a multi-tasker) The grounds are immaculately kept and a leisurely stroll is imperative. Also cool are the steps that lead to the building. It would help refresh one's memory regarding the states that comprise the United States of America. A visit to Baton Rouge cannot be complete without a visit to the state capitol. It makes for beautiful and historic leisurely time. read more

This is my 7th State Capitol and I think it's my favourite so far! The lady at the front desk was lovely, she asked us to sign in the guest book, and gave us booklets containing coupons for both Baton Rouge and New Orleans. She was really welcoming and friendly, and told us a lot about Baton Rouge and things to see and do in the area. The Capitol itself is the tallest I've seen, I think it's the tallest of all of the Capitol buildings, and it's gorgeous. It's definitely worth a walk around, and the grounds are very pretty! read more

Must see place to visit. Everyone who works here is super friendly and informative. The interior of the first floor is gorgeous. The senate and House of Representatives rooms are very nice. They were spruced up for the holidays as well. One of the guards who worked there for decades gave up an impromptu unofficial tour. The observation deck is large and clean. If there was not fog I'm sure the views would have been fabulous. read more

If you haven't visited since your grade school field trip, I would highly suggest you take another tour. The view from the observation deck on a pretty day is the best you will find in the city. The architecture and ornate details are pretty magnificent and the rotunda and the bronze embedded relief in the floor are works of art along with the 22 portraits hanging to the left of the building. There's a gift shop with all types of kitschy souvenirs. The grounds are beautifully designed and you can visit Governor Huey Long's final resting place marked by his 12' bronzed statue. Oak trees over 200 years old adorn the property along with rose gardens and camellia bushes and azaleas which make it a fabulous backdrop for photographs. read more

Perfect place for a picnic -- BELIEVE ME !!! The most romantic place that I have been with my sweet in a long time. You can't go wrong. read more

A must-see for not only tourists, but Baton Rouge natives as well. Nearly all of Louisiana's history can be seen on its walls, in the chambers of the Legislature, topped off with the infamous bullet holes from the assassination of Huey Long. And the observation deck is a real treat, offering the best and only panoramic views of the city. Took my grandchildren recently and it was wonderful to relive the excitement I felt the first time I went up there, almost 50 years ago. Cap it off with a tour of the grounds, the Old Arsenal Museum with the Civil War cannons nearby and you've got something for everyone in the family. read more

Louisiana State Capitol - Three of my 11 grandchildren in front of the Louisiana State Capitol, the nation's tallest capitol and BR's tallest buildings. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Baton Rouge, Louisiana

See all